Here are some of the techniques that have stood the test time. These “commandments” have undoubtedly helped me and hopefully, it would be of value to you.
1) Avoid unnecessary use of passive voice.
In passive sentences, the subject is acted upon by the verb.
Example:
a) The soup was prepared by Samantha. (Passive voice)
b) Samantha prepared the soup. (Active voice)
Although not grammatically incorrect, the passive voice slows down the story’s pace and may cause readers to lose interest. Of course, you won’t always be able to avoid its use, but strive to be moderate.
2) Don’t tell me, show me.
I’m certain you’ve heard this statement numerous times before. Still, many writers (including myself) continue to make this mistake.
Example:
a) Timothy is as tall as a giant. (Telling)
b) When Timothy entered the room, the tip of his head rushed against the high ceiling. (Showing)
3) If possible, replace the dialogue tag "I said" or "he/she said" with an appropriate description that suits the action taking place.
Suppose your character is running late for a meeting, but is being held back. Which response would be more effective?
a) "Hurry, let's go!" Said Martha.
b) “Hurry, let's go!” Grabbing John’s arm, Martha pulled him to the car.
Descriptions bring the dialogue to life and are more impactful. This technique does not apply to every conversation. Please use discretion.
4) Find a writing/ Critique partner
Even the best authors need constructive feedback. Always let an honest person check over your work for weaknesses in plot development, character development, grammatical and spelling errors etc.
5) Read bestsellers
Personally, this has worked very well for me. Read books by established authors and examine various ways in which they are able to develop characters, plot and dialogue, then apply those techniques in your own writing.
Disclaimer: Do not copy an author’s style of writing; just incorporate literary techniques that would enhance the quality of your work.
6) Use Google Grammarly
“Grammarly will make sure your messages, documents, and social media posts are clear, mistake-free, and impactful.” Simply go to the chrome web store and add the extension. You can download the free or premium (paid) version. The choice is yours.
Tips: Once you’ve added the extension, upload your manuscript on Google doc and begin to edit. Tutorials are also available on youtube.
Do you have any more suggestions? Feel free to share.
NEW RELEASE
link:https://tapas.io/episode/1101877
Author: J.R. Foxx
Editor: Peter Ronald
Design: Rob Potter and Mark Green
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